The IAMSAR Manual Volume III: Mobile Facilities, 2025 Edition is the search and rescue manual for ships, aircraft and rescue units. It's published jointly by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and it's the volume carried on board ships.

Edition at a glance

What's inside

• Rendering assistance to persons and craft in distress
• On-scene coordination of search and rescue
• Emergencies on board, including medical assistance and abandoning ship
• Checklists and forms for use during an incident

Carriage requirement

SOLAS Chapter V, regulation 21, requires ships to carry an up-to-date copy of IAMSAR Volume III.

Where Volume III fits

The IAMSAR Manual has three volumes. Volume I covers organization and management of search and rescue services, and Volume II covers mission coordination. Volume III is the one meant to be carried on rescue units, aircraft and vessels, so the people on scene can act on it.

Who uses it

Masters and officers of the watch, aircraft crews, and the crews of rescue units who may be called to assist or to coordinate on scene.